So you're looking for a garage ready chest freezer. Options are limited, and it can get confusing when you're trying to research your options online - a freezer may get tagged as a "garage ready" model by a website simply because people have left reviews stating that they have installed it in a garage. In mild climates where the temperature never gets much below 40 degrees, you don't technically need a garage ready model, although installing an "indoor" freezer in a garage could void the warranty.
If you live in the northeast US or other areas with freezing winters, you'll need to check that the freezer you choose can handle below-freezing temperatures.
We'll review which major appliance brands offer chest freezers that can be installed in your garage to help you choose the right model for your needs! One great resource on why you should choose a garage ready model and what options are available can be found here. They really did their research!
For more info on choosing a new freezer, check out our freezer buying guide.
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What Brands Make Garage Chest Freezers?
Different brands state different temperature tolerances in the owner manuals. Whether you can use their freezers in the garage depends on how their listed temperature tolerances compare to your climate.
Here are a few brands that do not offer garage ready chest freezers, as of this writing:
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Avanti
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Maytag
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Whirlpool
The chest freezers from these brands state in the owner's manuals that the model can handle ambient temperatures of 32-110 °F, and there is no mention of them being "garage ready" in the product description or overview, or anything that comes from the manufacturer.
Brands that do offer garage ready chest freezers include:
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Frigidaire - MAYBE - Freezers that can handle temps up to 110 °F and below 32 °F, as stated in the manuals, but they are not explicitly stated in the manuals as being garage ready
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GE
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Danby
These three are the stars! GE states explicitly that their chest freezers are garage ready. Danby makes some non-garage ready models, but they seem to be transitioning more towards garage freezers. Plus, many of their freezers come with full 5-year parts and labor warranties! This is super impressive compared to the standard one year everyone else is offering.
GE Appliances and Frigidaire make chest freezers ranging from 5.0 to over 20 cubic feet, while Danby makes chest freezers from 3.5 to 14 cubic feet.
As far as chest freezer design goes - GE is our favorite, since they include many "nice-to-have" features at reasonable prices and offer more Energy Star rated models.
Garage Ready Chest Freezer Reviews
1. Frigidaire FFFC13M4TW - 12.8 cu ft - $549 MSRP
The first chest freezer we'll look at is from Frigidaire. This is one model that, while not explicitly rated for garage use, should work okay. However, should you have an issue under warranty, it may not be covered if it is installed in a garage. The Frigidaire FFFC13M4TW should suit households of 5-8 people, or smaller households that want to store a lot of frozen goods most of the year.
Inside, you'll find two SpaceWise adjustable baskets and LED lighting. You can adjust the temperature using a dial located externally on the side of the unit. There is a power-on indicator light and a lock for your peace of mind, plus optional casters are included so you can move it if needed.
If you need a large chest freezer but would like more features - in particular, interior storage options - check out the GE FCM16DLWW, which includes an audible temperature alarm and two levels of sliding baskets.
Features
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Manual defrost
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Optional casters included
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Lock with key
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Power-on indicator light
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SpaceWise adjustable baskets
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LED interior lighting
Dimensions
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Height: 32.5"
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Width: 49.5"
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Depth: 29.56"
Click here to read over 60 real customer reviews of this product!
Frigidaire FFFC13M4TW - $549 MSRP - CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT PRICING!
2. Danby DCF055A2WDB - 5.5 cu ft - $459 MSRP
The Danby DCF055A2WDB is a popular model offering 5.5 cubic feet of capacity, although you can find models up to 14.5 cubic feet from Danby that are garage ready. An amazing 5-year parts and labor warranty with in-home service is included, giving you serious peace of mind!
The interior liner was designed to be easy to clean, and you can organize the interior using a divider and a vinyl-coated wire basket. The mechanical thermostat is located on the front lower right corner, so it's relatively easy to access. The defrost drain is also located on the front.
The Energy Guide for this model estimates it will use 224 kWh/year, costing $27 assuming a cost of $0.12/kWh. This compact freezer is a great option for storing meats or other frozen goods. This is a pretty basic model - you won't find features like a lock and key or a power indicator light, but this is typical of models in this capacity range. It is price-competitive with GE and Frigidaire models with the same capacity, with the extra benefit of the five-year warranty.
Features
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Manual defrost
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Mechanical thermostat controls
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Wire basket
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Front defrost drain
- 5-year parts and labor warranty with in-home service
Dimensions
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Height: 33.25"
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Width: 32.44"
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Depth: 22.2"
Danby DCF055A2WDB - $459 MSRP - CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT PRICING!
3. The GE FCM16SLWW - 15.7 cu ft - $878 MSRP
One of our top-selling GE garage freezers is the 15.7 cubic foot GE FCM16SLWW. This model is designed and tested to handle garage installations so it's a great option. The size is ideal for large households of up to 10 people, or for smaller households that want to freeze extra garden produce or lots of meat. If you encounter a power outage, you are assured that your food items will not get spoiled as this model can maintain a temperature at or below 32°F for 48 hours, keeping the food frozen.
It comes with two lift-out, sliding storage baskets. The interior lighting uses energy-efficient LEDs. The freezer can be locked with the included key, and it's easy to make sure it's running properly, thanks to the power-on indicator light on the front of the freezer. The defrost drain is located on the front, as are the temperature controls. It comes with a one-year parts and labor warranty.
This model will use an estimated 308 kWh/year, costing you about $37 at $0.12/kWh. It's thrice the size of the Danby model above while using the same amount of energy - pretty impressive!
Features
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Manual defrost
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Power Outage Promise
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Lock with key
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Power-on indicator light
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2 lift-out sliding baskets
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LED interior lighting
Dimensions
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Height: 33.375"
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Width: 65"
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Depth: 28.5"
Click here to read over 220 real customer reviews of this product!
GE FCM16SLWW - $878 MSRP - CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT PRICING!
Other Things You Should Know About Garage Freezers
All of the chest freezers we've reviewed above are manual defrost models. Most owner's manuals recommend defrosting twice a year, or when frost builds up to 1/4" thick. The tradeoff of this annoying process: manual defrost freezers cost about half as much to operate as "frost free" models.
We hope this helps you choose a new freezer. Leave us a comment below - We'd love to hear from you!
Editor's Note: This blog was originally written in April of 2020 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy as of the publication date noted above.
